Saturday, 17 September 2016

W:099 is the ring number of a Great Black-backed Gull that I sat watching in Saundersfoot harbour as it tried and tried to consume a Dogfish! I informed the relevant organisation and I had information back from Skokholm that they had rung the Gull as a fledgling on the 21st June 2015 and this had been the first sighting since.

The images were taken from 16.06pm to 16.26pm in that time the Gull did not get very far with eating the fish!

Thursday, 1 September 2016

It was a delightfully sunny and warm August Bank Holiday Monday (for a change) and perfect for a walk around Dowles Brook in the Wyre Forest. Surprisingly not many people seen on the walk, a few people out walking and a few cyclists and only a few birds were seen! However a Dipper preening and 3 Grey Wagtails were an uplifting sight, this was my first Dipper sighting for ages! Nuthatch, Magpie, Blue Tit, Wren, Bush Cricket, numerous Speckled Wood butterflies and a couple of worn Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary being the remaining highlights.

Devil's-bit Scabious
They looked a treat growing in abundance in a meadow we walked through.

Information taken from Plantlife:
The name 'scabious' derives from 'scabies' - one of the many ailments that flowers bearing this name were supposed to help cure.
According to one legend, the Devil grew angry about these medicinal properties and tried to get rid of them by biting the roots off. Hence why this wildflower has short and stubby roots and why it is called 'Devil's-bit' scabious.

The fish and chip supper was enjoyed whilst viewing Bewdley Bridge, the River Severn and several Swans and Gulls.

The Nuthatch was spotted pecking at the bark on a tree. I am not sure what it was the Nuthatch emerged with in its beak, it looked like a spider egg sac or maybe it had wedged an acorn or hazelnut in the bark and it was the fruit it had extracted?

.......................................................

The months without an 'R' in them have now passed and goodness me they passed by quickly!